Williams Sisters photos in Lagos

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US tennis star Venus Williams (R) speaks to children on October 31, 2012 during a two-hour tennis clinic at the Ikoyi club in Lagos. International tennis superstars, Serena and her sister Venus, are in Nigeria as part of a two-nation tour to promote women's rights. Serena Williams said on October 31 that she hopes her African tour with sister Venus would encourage athletes on the continent to strive for excellence in their sport. The sisters are going to South Africa on November 2

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola presents the emblem of the state government to US tennis stars Venus (C) and Serena Williams during a visit at the government house in Lagos October 31, 2012. International tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams arrived in Nigeria's largest city yesterday as part of a two-nation tour that will see them play exhibition matches to promote women's rights. Their trip is aimed at promoting "the role that women play in shifting perceptions and encouraging development at all levels across the African continent," said a statement from the Breaking The Mould initiative they are representing. The ladies will hold a tennis clinic at an exclusive Ikoyi club, visit a puberty education class for girls and play an exhibition match before heading to South Africa on November 2.

Left Mr Richard Giwa Osagie, Chairman Ikoyi Club 1938, Venus and Serena Williams during the visit Px Biodun Ogunleye

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) listed among Boko Haram mediators

MAIDUGURI— Leadership of Jama’atul Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also called Boko Haram, has named the former Head of State and presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), among six prominent northerners, to mediate between the group and the Federal Government.

Gen. Buhari

The Federal Government in a statement by Dr. Reuben Abati, Presidential Spokesman, Thursday, welcomed the move.

Boko Haram, however, said that for the group to observe ceasefire, the Federal Government must heed its demand by arresting and prosecuting the former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Boko Haram, has named the former Head of State and presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), among six prominent northerners, to mediate between the group and the Federal Government.

Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State also, Thursday, said security agencies should be allowed to do their job on those they suspect are sponsors or sympathisers of the Boko Haram sect.

Shettima told state house correspondents after a meeting of the National Economic Council that the security challenge in the country required the efforts of all Nigerians to overcome.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the group, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, who doubles as the Second-in-Command (Amir) to their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, made the group’s intention known in a tele-conference with journalists in Maiduguri, Thursday.

Mediators
Abdulazeez said other people, who could mediate with the government if its conditions were met, include Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, former Yobe State governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari and Hajia Aisha Wakil and her husband, Alkali Wakil.

Dialogue venue
He insisted, however, that such dialogue must not take place in Nigeria, but Saudi Arabia.
According to him, the choice of Saudi Arabia was informed by the insincerity of the Nigeria government for dialogue and its betrayal in the past.

Abdulazeez insisted that for the group to ceasefire completely, the government must not only apprehend, but prosecute Senator Modu Sheriff according to the laws of the land as well as compensate members of the group and rebuild their places of worship destroyed during 2009 uprising, which led to the alleged murder of their leader, Mohammed Yusuf.

Conditions for ceasefire
The Boko Haram spokesman further stressed that, all their members, who were arrested and are under the custody of security agencies must be released immediately, just as their wives and children who were displaced following the crises should be rehabilitated into the society to allow room for the much talked about dialogue with the Federal Government.

Commenting on the series of recent killings and destruction of property in Maiduguri, Abu Abdulazeez dissociated Boko Haram from the action, saying such attacks were not only politically-motivated, but carried out by those seeking power in the Borno Emirate council or in government.

He stressed that recent killings and destructions in Maiduguri were against the ideology of the sect, which he said was fighting the cause of Allah.

Abdulazeez also said the burning of old and newly-constructed primary schools witnessed across the state were not carried out by the sect, insisting that they were perpetrated by aggrieved politicians who were denied contracts by the state government.

Last February, the group had also nominated Monguno, Bukar Ibrahim, Aisha Wakil and Jinadu Idris as part of a team to mediate between it and the Federal Government, but the negotiation never got off.

Buhari reacts
Thursday, was, however, the first time the group would be proposing Gen. Buhari as part of a mediation team between it and the Federal Government.

--> Buhari, who returned to Kaduna from Daura, Katsina State, yesterday evening, said he was yet to be formally contacted on the development.

Buba Galadima, an associate of the former Head of State speaking on behalf of the General said: “His first reaction is that he has not heard about this news and nobody has contacted him.

“He said he wouldn’t want to say anything on this matter that has not yet been authenticated, but he remains prayerful that peace and tranquility will return to this country.”

Sheriff’s words
Meanwhile, Sheriff, who spoke in Abuja on the issue of the involvement of politicians with Boko Haram, said: “I think it is within the realm and the responsibility of the security agencies to unearth the truth.

“I am more of a developmental politician and I am more interested in addressing the core issues that make our society vulnerable to the antics of religious bigots and all sorts of misfits that are indoctrinating our young ones to these things.

“I don’t want to dabble into the realm of the security agencies neither do I want to respond to allegations and accusations from any quarter.

“But it is the responsibility of security agencies to unearth those behind Boko Haram.”
A veteran journalist Dele Giwa said an evil done by man to man will be rewarded if not now then later, if not by man then certainly by God. But the day of evil over good is only temporary.

“I think the problem at hand goes beyond politics. The underlying factor is poverty. The most important thing is how we can resolve this problem and restore harmony, peace and how to eradicate endemic poverty which is the underlying factor of the whole crisis.

“I want to solicit for the media not to dwell on sensationalism but proper conflict resolution and move our society forward. Its pains me if a single person is killed by Boko Haram, when innocent souls are lost.

“Its sheer hooliganism. Its sheer madness for anybody to burn a place of worship. These are the issue agitating my mind and I don’t want to dwell on politics for now.”

JTF storm kidnappers hideout, kill 14

--> LAGOS (AFP) – The Joint Military Task Force stormed the hideout of the kidnappers of a Turkish national in oil-rich Rivers State and killed 14 of them in a shootout, police said Saturday.

“The hoodlums were shot dead during a gun battle with the security agents in their camp in Kaani community in Ogoni land,” state police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam told AFP of the incident on Friday.

He said members of the gang who abducted a Turkish construction worker last month had opened fire upon seeing the security agents in their camp.

“The security operatives returned with a superior firepower and in the process shot dead six of the kidnappers instantly, while eight others with gunshot wounds died on the way to the hospital,” the police spokesman said.

He added that two other suspects were assisting the police in their investigation.

Ugwuegbulam said the Turkish national had earlier been released unhurt by his captors after they collected ransom money.

“The security team recovered some arms and ammunition as well as cash in the camp,” he said.

“Six AK-47 rifles, 444 rounds of ammunition, 17 magazines… as well as the sum of 98,900 naira (620 dollars) were found in the camp,” he said.

The police spokesman could not however say if the recovered money was part of the ransom.

He said the gang was also notorious for carrying out a wave of robberies and attacks on security agents in the state in recent months.

“The police and other security agents will intensify efforts to rid the state of undesirable elements, especially those harassing residents and kidnapping prominent people, including foreigners,” he said.

Scores of foreign workers have been kidnapped for ransom in the Niger Delta, which is located partly in Rivers State — although a 2009 amnesty deal for oil militants had led to a sharp decline in unrest there in recent months.

But sporadic incidents continue despite the amnesty. Attacks have been blamed on criminal gangs seeking ransom or crude oil to sell on the black market as well as militants claiming to be fighting for a greater share of oil revenue for the local population.

The Niger Delta, with its massive oil and gas reserves, remains a deeply impoverished and badly polluted region.

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It has also seen a wave of pirate attacks in recent months.

On October 15, gunmen attacked a ship off Nigeria operated by French firm Bourbon in the region and kidnapped seven foreign sailors.

The abducted sailors — six Russian and one Estonian — were released this week, the company said.

In a report earlier this year, the International Maritime Bureau said the Gulf of Guinea — where the Niger River discharges into the Atlantic through a massive delta — was emerging as a new piracy hub, with heavily armed gangs carrying out increasingly violent attacks in which crude theft was often the goal.

My husband is not my son’s biological father, Woman tells court

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A 38-year-old nurse, Mrs. Eunice Odidi, told a Lagos customary court sitting in Ajegunle that her husband, Mesheck, was not the biological father of her son.

She said she knew her husband was just having sex with her for the fun of it, because, according to her, he had low sperm count.

”When l noticed that my husband could not impregnate me, I advised him to approach a doctor who later confirmed that his sperm count was very low”.

The petitioner said she decided to drag her husband to court in order not to make her child see him as his biological father.

Eunice, who claimed to be a member of the Bible Life Church, also informed the court that she lived together with her husband for three years, but did not get pregnant, adding that she met another man called Sule who impregnated her within three months.

” When l met Sule, l introduced him to Mesheck as my brother, because Mesheck did not know then that I had already got pregnant for Sule”.

The wife therefore urged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her the custory of the child.

Mesheck denied the allegation of low sperm count and told the court he would have sent Eunice packing when he realised that she was wayward.

‘My wife enjoyed sex outside, but starved me of it’

A middle-aged man, Mr. Adeleke Adejumo, has also told an Ake customary court sitting in Abeokuta that his wife, Olanike, starved him of sex.

He claimed that what really caused their misunderstanding was that she always denied him of sex,  adding that anytime he approached her for sex, she always picked quarrel with him.

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The husband alleged that the wife was always flirting with young lovers.

”Men always called her on phone, and she used to tell them that she would join them in bars””.

Olanike denied the allegation, saying  her husband would not allow her to go out any day he set aside to have sex with her.

The court adjourned the case for further hearing.

Williams sisters dancing "Asonto": We came to inspire Nigerian women

Famous sports superstars, Venus and Serena Williams, have said that they came to Nigeria to promote women’s tennis and the empowerment of women in the most populated country in sub-sahara Africa

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US tennis superstars Venus (Center R) and Serena Williams (Center L) dance with children during a program entitled “Kick Like a Girl”, after an interactive session with students of the Federal Government College in Lagos, on Thursday. The Williams sisters, accompanied by their mother Oracene Price are in Lagos as part of a two-nation tour to usher in a change to Nigerian tennis and empower women and the girl child. Photo: AFP

Speaking with reporters in Lagos’ commercial hub, Victoria Island, the pair who between them, have won 22 Grand Slam titles, said they hope their presence in Nigeria, which saw them conduct a tennis club at the Ikoyi Club 1938, hold a conference with secondary school pupils and play an exhibition match at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club yesterday, was going to spark a change in the way Nigerian women do things.

Alongside their mother, Oracene, the Williams sisters, were treated with royalty by their loving hosts and they felt at home.

Taking their own successes in women’s tennis, a sport which before them was dominated by white players, the sisters want to inspire Nigerian women to take up the sport.

They also want them to pursue their dreams, irrespective of the stumbling blocks that are the lots of many a Nigerian women.

“We were able to break the mould and win a lot of Grand Slams and change the face of tennis, at a time,  when tennis was very dominated by white people,” said Serena, who is 31.

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She added that “It doesn’t matter what your background is and where you come from, if you have dreams and goals, that’s all that matters,”

Venus, who is a year older than her sister, said that Nigerian women must believe in their ability to get to the peak of their careers.

“Self-belief is very important in life. Nigerian women must believe that they can succeed. We did it and that is the message we bring to Nigerian women. It is possible to become the very best if you believe and work on the things that would make you achieve those dreams.

“I also believe that Nigerian tennis players can also become great if they train well, believe and stay focused”, added Venus.

Maiduguri: Boko Haram Suspects Kill Retired General Shuwa

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Rtd Major General Shuwa Photo-FP/File, Pius Utomi Ekpei

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Joint Task Force (JTF), in Maiduguri, today announced the death of Retired General Muhammadu Shuwa at the hands of suspects thought to be Boko Haram.

In a press statement by its spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, JTF said the general was shot in his house by four men who were initially thought to have been his guest for the Juma,at prayers.  They entered the house and opened fire on the General and his visitors.

--> “One of the guests died on the spot while the general died on the way to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,” the statement said.

JTF said its troops in the area immediately cordoned off the area and that a search for the assailants was underway.

Anti-Corruption Activist Provides Photos Of Mansion Built For Minister Orubebe In Abuja

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By SaharaReporters, New York

An anti- corruption watchdog  group, Anti-Corruption Network, led by former house member Dino Melaye today provided photos of a residence it claimed was built for Nigeria's minister of the Niger Delta ministry, Elder Godsday orubebe in the Mabushi area of Abuja.
Mr. Dino stated that a construction company Setraco built and delivered the new mansion to Mr. Orubebe in less than six months after the company benefitted from contracts to build part of the East-West highway in the Delta region.
 The photos taken by the group shows a mansion located on Minister's Hill area, Mabushi Abuja. Dino told Saharareporters that the offices of the group was burgled by unknown person after it revealed that Mr. Orubebe was involved in other scams totalling N29 billion in ficticious contracts.

Obama's Big Problem by Pelumi Olatinpo

President Obama has a problem, and with barely days till Election Day, I am not sure it is a problem he can resolve, though he may still win this election. The problem looks unfixable.  I shall tell you why and how.

This election, as in all elections, has been about a fight for the heart and soul of the middle-class. A group that has been hit hard by the Great Recession is in dire need of resuscitation. And since the middle-class constitute a majority of the American electorate and tend to vote in larger number than other groups, theoretically, it holds sway on who shall inhabit the White House this coming February.

Reports show that in the period following the financial markets mayhem of 2007 – 2009, we’ve seen a majority of income go to the top 1 percent of Americans—about 93 percent of income to be exact. It is no secret that our society is the most unequal we’ve seen it since the “glory” days of the 1970s. The American fabric is increasingly clothing the rich and super-rich at a blinding and immoral expense of the poor and middle-class.

So, at such a tremulous time as this, it becomes perceptible that the candidate who best articulates his vision for the middle-class; who can best outline how his policies will help achieve an equitable and just society gets the ordination of middle-income Americans for four years as head-of-state.

In this exercise of articulation and projection, President Obama has been superlative. In the latest Washington Post-ABC poll released this Monday, independents, crucial to the tilt of this election, deemed Mr. Obama by a two-thirds majority (64 percent) as having policies that will favor the middle-class. It is obvious that Mr. Obama’s message to this crucial block is resonating. They feel his empathy, they get a sense he understands where they are and what they are going through.

On the other hand, it seems these same voters feel that Mr. Romney has no poor friend on his contacts list—especially with his candid comments disparaging 47 percent of Americans as losers.  On the question of Mr. Romney’s policies, by a 10-point margin (48 to 38 percent), independents say Mr. Romney policies will look out for the wealthy ahead of the welfare of the middle-class.

However, with such numbers in favor of the president, this race is nationally tied. Some polls even give the edge to Mitt Romney.

The only way I can explain this, outside of a destructive first debate performance, is that the president seems to be battling a force bigger than himself.  In this same poll, although independents favor Mr. Obama’s policies for the middle-class, by a national margin of 53 percent to 43 percent, they choose to elect Mitt Romney and reject the president for a second term.

It is confounding.

If the issue that matters most to middle-income Americans in this election is their pockets, what is happening? It is as though the electorate is intent on existential hara-kiri, a form of Japanese ritual suicide.

Whatever waste and catastrophe the Great Recession has laid to the American landscape, it seems it has also left a sizable portion of delirium where citizens consciously, (or is it subconsciously?), vote against their own interests. Mr. Obama, as the numbers do show, has been able to connect with voters on a visceral level.  But that’s not translating into votes. Though these voters will be quick to note he is not responsible for the chaos that befell the country.

So, is it that the president’s policies have not worked? If the answer is no, could this be why independent voters nationally seem to be rejecting him with such a margin? But if these same voters claim Mr. Romney will not look out primarily for their interests, what then gives?

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I will dare to posit that these crucial voters are suffering from a political variation of what psychotherapists’ term “post-traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD). While the worst of the economic downturn may have passed, Mr. Obama, for all intents and purposes, is the proud owner of this current economy and any failure to rocket out of the morass into the high heavens (whether just or unjust, reasonable or unreasonable) falls at his desk.

At his junction, there's nothing the president can do to resolve this.  His campaign has done all it can to impress on the minds of voters where his priorities lay. His only chance of success in these next days is to continue to aggressively push a countermeasure that will offset the immovability of the problem.

Thanks to a quiet primary season, the president has been able to vastly solidify his ground get-out-the votes organization in key swing states.  A luxury Mitt Romney has not been privileged due to his bruising fight for nomination in the Republican Party. That fight consumed a lot of his money, attention, and resources for building a ground game comparable to that of President Obama.

Hopefully, the president can blunt the impact of pro-Romney independent voters in vital swing states like Ohio and Florida by getting a disproportionate number of Democrat-leaning independents and registered Democrats to the voting booths between now and Election Day. Only through this can he prevent the threatened hara-kiri of a traumatized crowd.

Fergie Supports REF Clattenburg:“I don’t believe Mark Clattenburg would make any comments like that. I refuse to believe it.

BACKING ... Alex Ferguson has given his support to referee Mark Clattenburg

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ALEX FERGUSON has waded into the Mark Clattenburg controversy by claiming he does not believe the referee would make racist comments.

Chelsea accused Clattenburg of verbally abusing John Obi Mikel during their 3-2 defeat by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Blues have made a formal complaint to the FA against the 37-year-old match official, who maintains his innocence.

And Fergie has made his feelings on the unsavoury matter crystal clear.

He said: “I don’t believe Mark Clattenburg would make any comments like that. I refuse to believe it.

“I think it is unthinkable in the modern climate. I just don’t believe it — simple as that.

“There is no way a referee would stoop to that, I am convinced of that.”

RACE ROW ... Mark Clattenburg is accused of verbally abusing John Obi Mikel

Ferguson has had numerous run-ins with referees during his near 26-year reign at Old Trafford but believes in the integrity of the officials.

He added: “I think in the modern game, the way we see the game today rather than how it was 25 years ago, it has completely changed.

“I played myself and I know the banter that went on between referees and players 25 years ago is different from today.

“I have never heard a player come to me in the last 15 years and say a referee has sworn at them during a game, ever.

“So, that is where I stand. I don’t believe it.”

Clattenburg will receive the full backing of his fellow officials during any investigations.

Assistant referees Michael McDonough and Simon Long, along with fourth official Michael Jones, did not hear anything untoward said on their linked headsets and are expected to say as much in any testimony.

Newcastle-based Clattenburg, who has been stood down for this weekend's round of matches, took charge of his first Football League game in 2000.

CHELSEA have formally accused referee Mark Clattenburg of racially abusing John Obi Mikel.

Clatter him

CONTROVERSY ... John Obi Mikel and Mark Clattenburg

CHELSEA have formally accused referee Mark Clattenburg of racially abusing John Obi Mikel.

Blues made their move by handing witness statements to the FA from their players.

But the Champions League holders dropped allegations Clattenburg also insulted Juan Mata after an internal investigation failed to provide sufficient evidence to proceed.

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The complaint has left Clattenburg feeling ‘angry and confused’ according to former ref Graham Poll.

Chelsea’s formal complaint regarding Clattenburg’s inappropriate language during Sunday’s 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United was lodged with the FA’s governance division last night.

A club statement said: “We today lodged a formal complaint with the FA regarding inappropriate language directed at John Obi Mikel by Mark Clattenburg.

“This is a result of a thorough investigation. It was not a decision the club took lightly.

“There was not sufficient evidence to support a second claim to the FA with regard to the alleged verbal abuse of another 

first-team player.”

Although there was no mention of racist language in Chelsea’s statement, it is understood that the witness statements allege that the word ‘monkey’ was used to Mikel.

Poll said: “Mark is feeling angry and confused because he doesn’t feel he’s done anything wrong.”

Fergie points the finger at Nani over loss to Chelsea

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE ... Fergie blanks a distraught Nani

ALEX FERGUSON has told Nani: You’re to blame for Manchester United’s Capital One Cup exit.

United appeared to be heading into the quarter-finals of the competition after taking a 3-2 lead against Chelsea.

But with just seconds left on the clock, Nani lost possession before the Blues were awarded a last-gasp spot-kick at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard converted the penalty and Roberto Di Matteo’s men went on to win 5-4 after extra-time — much to Fergie’s annoyance.

The United boss said: “All we needed to do was see the game out by keeping possession.

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“But Nani decided to try and beat a player, lost the ball and they got a penalty kick.

“We gave the ball away for a third goal and we were in complete control of the game at that point.

“I don’t know whether it was a penalty or not but nevertheless I think the young players started to feel it and it was very difficult for us in extra time.”

Ferguson refused to condemn Nani, but the Portuguese winger will be well aware he missed a glorious chance to impress his manager.

The Scot added: “He’s an individual and he’s a player that wants to beat men so we’re not going to discourage him from that.

“But in that situation if he’d have kept the ball in the corner flag the game is over.”

One player who did earn Ferguson’s praise was two-goal Ryan Giggs, who played the entire game.

Ferguson said: “I think in Giggs we saw a player of absolutely unbelievable proportions in terms of playing the 120 minutes at 39 years of age next month.

“It’s a credit to himself but it’s also an example to every player on that pitch, including the Chelsea players.”

Stretch Lines And Pregnancy Causes And Prevention

Stretch marks. Striae Gravidarum. The marks of pregnancy. Call them what you will. But they are the one thing that all women dread will occur as soon as they get pregnant. 



But what are stretch marks anyway? And why do they occur? 

Well, the reason lies in the anatomy of the skin. The skin has two layers – a thin upper layer called the epidermis, and a thicker, lower layer called the dermis. Scattered in the dermis are fine protein filaments called elastin that, like a piece of rubber band, are capable of stretching on being pulled. But just as a rubber band can stretch only so far and no further, these elastin fibres can also be stretched only to a certain extent. If stretched further, they snap. The increasing bulk of the uterus during pregnancy causes the skin to stretch to a great extent and the elastin fibres are torn. The torn elastin produces scars on the skin called Stria Gravidarum or stretch marks.

They occur on the lower abdomen of all pregnant women, right?

Well, right and wrong. They appear in most pregnant women, but not in all and not just on the lower abdomen. Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched in a very short period of time, as in pregnancy or in obesity. They occur:



In the lower abdomen in pregnancy.

Along the sides of the breasts either in pregnancy or in obesity.

Upper thighs.

Occasionally even on the inner sides of the upper arms.



But can stretch marks be prevented?

Thankfully, the answer is yes, to a certain extent. Although some women are genetically prone to develop stretch marks, it has been noted that athletes and women accustomed to heavy, physical labour get very few or no stretch marks. This is regardless of whether their female relatives have stretch marks or not. The reason for this is that that these women have very well-developed and strong abdominal muscles. These muscles can easily take the weight of the growing uterus and prevent it from pressing forwards on the skin – rather like wearing a strong muscular belt under the skin. The skin is thus stretched less, less elastin fibres are damaged, and there are fewer stretch marks.

Again a supple, healthy, well moisturized skin is capable of stretching more without any lasting damage. So if a woman can strengthen her abdominal muscles and keep her skin healthy and supple, there is less chance of her developing stretch marks.

But how? How do I develop my muscles and keep my skin moisturized?

Gentle exercises for the abdominal muscles can be started as soon as pregnancy has been confirmed or even as pregnancy is being planned. 



Exercise 1 : Standing erect, raise both arms above the head. Bend forward slowly to touch your toes. Hold the position for a count of 100. Then slowly straighten up. Do this exercise at least once daily.

Exercise 2 : Standing erect, raise both arms above the head and clasp your hands. Now bend slowly to your left as far down as you feel comfortable. Hold for a count of 10. Straighten up slowly and then bend to your right. Hold to a count of 10. Straighten up. Exhale as you are bending and inhale while straightening up. This makes one set. Do at least 3 sets once daily.

Exercise 3 : Stand straight with feet about 12 inches apart. Place hands on your back at the waist. Slowly bend back, as far back as you feel comfortable. Hold to a count of 10. Straighten up. Now bend forward slowly, hold the position to a count of 10. Then straighten up. Exhale as you are bending and inhale while straightening up. This makes one set. Do at least 3 sets once daily.



These three exercises will strengthen the abdominal and back muscles as well as gently stretch the skin. They also improve the posture during pregnancy.

Caring for the skin : Keep the skin moisturized by applying oil – olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil or any good baby oil – thoroughly over the skin of the abdomen, hips and thighs. Massage it in with sweeping upward strokes. You can do this before you exercise so that the oil is properly absorbed as the skin is stretched during exercise. This will make the skin supple and healthy and capable of stretching without damaging the elastin fibres.
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A Good Diet : Take a good diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and adequate liquids. And do not forget your daily vitamins. This will ensure a healthy and supple skin.

But what happens if the stretch marks have already occured? How do I get rid of them?

The good thing about stretch marks is that they fade over time. When they are first formed, they are reddish or purplish, but later they become thin silvery lines that may not be visible at first glance. The bad thing about stretch marks is that they can be removed permanently only by surgery. The elastin and collagen growth can be stimulated to some extent by cocoa butter, Vitamin E, wheat germ oil and lanolin. But to remove the marks completely, laser surgery, blue light therapy and other surgical treatments are the only options. Many creams and lotions available on the market also claim to be able to remove stretch marks but have yet to be medically proved.

Breast Cancer Its Causes

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor developed from cells of the breast, and it is one of the most common cancers affecting females, at time has not been established what is the exact cause of this one, but last researches clearly pointing that there are several risks factors; 

These are the most probably breast cancer risk factors;


- Last researches have established that in the age group above 50 years there is a high incidence; on the other hand, in the age group below 25 years the incidence is very low. It is very important to say that this disease is very aggressive in patient 25-50 years old. 

- Menstrual cycle is other factor that should be considered; common in the ladies who have a longer menstrual life, i.e. the onset of menarche is earlier and cessation of menstruation is late.

- The women that smoke and drink alcohol increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

- Breast cancer is developed more frequently in spinsters and married woman that have not given birth to children, or if given birth then have not breast fed their offspring.

- The women that have had a breast cancer on one side have greater risk to develop cancer on the opposite side, and if there are antecedents of breast cancer in their families (mother, sisters and daughters), there are greatest risks too.

- Breast cancer is linked with obesity and higher intake of saturated fatty acids

- Breast cancer is linked too, with the continuous or sequential uses of combined oestrogen plus progestin hormone therapy (CHT)

- Women that have been using oral anti contraceptives for more than ten years are more vulnerable to the development of this disease.

--> On the other hand, women doing 4-5 hours of exercises per week reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

In short, these facts derive from the statistical analysis; they should not be taken as causative or predisposing factors.